The Queen Mother Meng leaned forward slightly and whispered to Miss Meng Fourteenth, seemingly not noticing the movement here.
Looking at this situation, Sheng Weiwu and Xu Caifu are still confused, but Sheng Weiqiao and several older juniors are relieved. I am afraid that this girl was arranged by the Queen Mother - although I don't know why the Queen Mother didn't ask directly, but It was such a big turn, but Sheng Weiqiao felt that he had a clear conscience, so he nodded: "Please tell me!"
"My brother and his party arrived in Bishui County in early October, and they visited Danmolou frequently during this period." The girl looked directly at her and said unhurriedly, "But it was always safe and sound - why did you all go there?" Going to Danmo Tower, something went wrong between my brother and Mr. Meng? The most important thing is that you came north to Chang'an to send two scholars to take the exam, but it was still early at that time, and even now, it is far away. It’s spring time. Why enter Hong Kong at noon and leave in a hurry when it’s already dark at night?”
"In this situation, it seems as if you have done something guilty in Bishui County and you can't wait to escape?"
Sheng Weiqiao and the others were stunned when they heard this. They never expected that they would be suspected of being the real culprits who killed Meng Boheng and Rong Qingzui at the same time!
Nan couldn't help but change his expression, and said urgently to Empress Dowager Meng: "Empress Dowager, I guarantee it with my life..."
"Don't be anxious!" Seeing this, Empress Dowager Meng couldn't continue to pretend not to hear, so she had to stop whispering to Meng Shishi and said kindly, "The Ai family also believes in you, otherwise why would they let those children Came to Chang'an safely and undisturbed? It's just that some people don't believe it, and the Ai family can't live up to Concubine Mo's face. She has to let Deping ask clearly in person - after all, it's a good thing to make it clear. right?"
Concubine Mo was Mo Xiuyi during the late emperor's reign, the biological mother of King Gaomi, and Rong Qingzui's biological grandmother.
When the late Emperor Xiaozong wanted to establish King Guangling, he was opposed by Huan Guanlan and others in the name of "no direct descendant." Prince Guangling's biological mother, Concubine Rou, hated Empress Dowager Meng and her son. If Huan Guanlan and others hadn't been watching, there would be no future today. There are a group of old people left behind by His Majesty Emperor Zhaozong, his direct grandfather. I am afraid that Empress Dowager Meng and her son will not be able to survive the torment of Concubine Rou.
Therefore, after Empress Dowager Meng came to power, the first thing she did was to force Concubine Rou to die for the late emperor; the second thing she did was to order Concubine Rou's natal family to be confiscated.
Originally, she was definitely going to attack King Guangling, but Huan Guanlan and other officials disagreed. These people supported the emperor's eldest son to ascend the throne because they really believed that in the absence of a legitimate son, the eldest son should be established in order, and It is not because the biological mother who dotes on her young son raises her young son.
- In short, their choice was to adhere to the ancient system, follow the etiquette and law, be selfless and loyal to the country, not to sympathize with the situation of Empress Dowager Meng and her son in the palace, or to interfere in the household affairs of Emperor Xiaozong's harem!
It was already their bottom line to leave Concubine Rou and Concubine Rou's natal family to Empress Dowager Meng to vent their anger. Prince Guangling was the late emperor's biological son, and he was the late emperor's favorite prince who never forgot to entrust his important officials before his death. How could Huan Guanlan and the others let Empress Dowager Meng touch him?
Especially when King Guangling was less than ten years old!
At this age, even if they knew that his biological mother, Concubine Rou, was very cruel to Empress Dowager Meng and her son, and almost tried every means to kill Empress Dowager Meng, mother and son, many courtiers believed that the child was innocent and should not blame him for what Concubine Rou had done - According to the laws of the country, even if it was a serious crime to kill the whole family, King Guangling was not old enough to be executed!
At that time, the Meng family was not yet prominent, and the new monarch was in great need of the assistance of Huan Guanlan and others. Empress Dowager Meng did not want to be in trouble just sitting on the throne of the Queen Mother, so she had no choice but to endure it for now!
Secondly, when the emperor failed to live up to expectations and quickly fell from the much-anticipated wise emperor to a cowardly emperor, Empress Dowager Meng was too busy helping her mother-in-law to seize power. She was even more afraid that King Gaomi would use this as an excuse to usurp the throne, and she really had no time to specifically target King Guangling. .
As a result, under the protection of King Gaomi, King Guangling survived until now.
Although he must have lived a cautious life, at least he had not lost his title. After hiring Zhao Taoshang, the niece of Princess Gaomi, as his daughter-in-law, she felt even more confident: as long as the King of Gaomi did not fall, Queen Mother Meng would not be able to control him now.
As for Concubine Mo, she had never targeted Empress Dowager Meng and her son before - and there was no need for her to do so, because there was Concubine Rou. Although she was not kind to Empress Dowager Meng and her son, Concubine Rou made Empress Dowager Meng hate her so much that she wanted to eat her alive. The target is in front of her. Queen Mother Meng may not like her, but she is not as unhappy as she is to Concubine Rou, unless she is killed.
In addition, Concubine Mo's biological son, King Gaomi, was vigorously cultivated by the late emperor before his death. He has many cards, strong power, and deep scheming. Since the emperor fell, it has been difficult for Empress Dowager Meng to suppress the power of the Meng family.
Concubine Mo valued her children, but she was living more and more freely in the palace. The Queen Mother had to give her some face in public, otherwise it might be King Gaomi's turn to deny the Queen Mother face in public.
At this moment, Empress Dowager Meng mentioned Concubine Mo. The implication was that the Meng family had reached a certain agreement with the Gaomi Palace, and today's questioning was going to take place.
Nan was annoyed and worried, but after all she was just a marquise. The Queen Mother and the Concubine pressed down together. No matter how much she tried to protect Sheng Weiqiao and the others, she really couldn't. She could only force a smile and say to the girl: "Please, please Princess Deping is so kind to you. After all, these children are traveling far away for the first time in their lives. They have never seen much of the world. If they are rude or ignorant, Princess, please don’t take offense!"
The girl, Princess Deping, said expressionlessly: "I just want to find out who killed my second brother, and I didn't mean to make things difficult for you, my family friend."
After giving Nan a soft nail, she raised her chin towards Sheng Weiqiao, "You heard what the Queen Mother said, so go ahead! If it really has nothing to do with you, I won't cause trouble for you."
Sheng Weiqiao was angry, and could only suppress it as Empress Dowager Meng was watching from above, and said: "The princess only said that on the night we went to Danmo Tower, something went wrong between Prince Meng and the young prince of Gaomi Palace, but she didn't It is said that in the evening of that day, just as we sisters got on the carriage, at the entrance of Danmo Tower, we were hit by a sharp arrow that shot directly through the neck of the horse pulling the carriage! If the rescuers on both sides had not been rescued in time, we sisters might not have been in the carriage. Something will happen!"
"I dare to ask the princess, if the princess is a girl from a small family like us, traveling for the first time in her life, and something like this happens, and the shopkeeper of Danmolou says it may be the work of bandits... what will you do? ?”
Without waiting for Princess Deping to answer, she raised her eyebrows slightly, "You may have the courage to stay in Bishui County and investigate the matter thoroughly before setting off, but we don't have such courage. After we finally returned to the ship, we just wanted to immediately Leave Bishui County and stay far away to feel at ease!"
"After all, as the princess said, the most important thing for us when we come to Chang'an this time is the admission of my brother and Xu Shixiong next year!"
"Since Bishui County can't make us feel safe, how can we let the two brothers stay there? If something goes wrong, spring is only a few months away. If we don't have time to take care of ourselves, wouldn't it be delayed for another three years? ?!”
Empress Dowager Meng exchanged glances with her left and right, and pondered over whether what Sheng Weiqiao said was true or false.
This answer makes sense, and Sheng Weiqiao sincerely believes that his party has nothing to do with this matter. He even suspects that the current cross-examination is a conspiracy against the Ningwei Hou Mansion and the Sheng family. This meeting is almost written from beginning to end. Full of "unjust accusation" and "this is a naked frame-up" - Empress Dowager Meng thought for a while and nodded her chin imperceptibly towards Princess Deping.
Princess Deping asked knowingly: "Although what you said makes sense, it is only a possibility and there is no substantial evidence. In fact, let alone my brother's injury, just talk about the missing Young Master Meng Ba. In order to find him, this paragraph In time, the entire Bishui County was turned upside down. Not only that, on the day he disappeared, all the carriages, horses and ships entering and leaving Bishui County in the three days before and after were intercepted and searched! Even so, nothing was found!"
She looked at Sheng Weiqiao, "The only thing that passed through Bishui County during that time and was not searched was your ship!"
"We had already left Bishui County at that time and did not know about this matter." Sheng Weiqiao looked at her without giving in. "However, according to the princess, it was not difficult to catch up with us when the search started, and we never deviated. After passing the main route, we stopped a few times and received several letters from Uncle Xu Shi and Aunt Nan. It’s not like we had no place to look for them! Why didn’t the government, the Gaomi Palace, or the envoys from Zheng Guogong’s Palace try to inform them? Shall we say that? If we know about this, we can stop the ship for inspection at any time!"
"Even now, the sea-going ship we took to go north is docked near the estuary, and the high-rise ship is just outside Chang'an City—all of them can be searched at any time!"
Princess Deping said calmly: "It's been so long, what kind of clues and traces can't be destroyed? Especially when the ship is sailing on the sea, why should I throw it into the ocean and where can I find it?"
"What the Princess said is really ridiculous!" Sheng Weiqiao couldn't help but remind herself that this is Xinshou Palace, the residence of the Queen Mother, and the Queen Mother is watching from above, so she can't be too presumptuous, but the more Princess Deping talked about it, the more she became more and more dissatisfied. The words made him feel angry - it was also because Sheng Lanci and his wife doted on their daughter too much. Sheng Weiqiao didn't have much experience in being submissive and forbearing in front of superiors - his expression suddenly darkened and he sneered, "Princess Zhao So, wouldn’t all the ships, carriages and horses that were not caught that day be suspected?”
"The former is a vast sea, and the evidence can be thrown into the sea! The latter is a vast world, who knows if it was burned and buried under some inconspicuous flowers and grass?"
"Doesn't this mean that whoever the princess says is the murderer is the murderer?!"
Princess Deping glanced at her in surprise. She obviously didn't expect this girl to be so agitated. A mere daughter of a scholar, in front of the Queen Mother, dared to turn against herself, the princess who was interrogating her in the name of the Queen Mother. ? Didn't she see that Nan next to her was so shocked that she almost knocked over her tea bowl